by NEW MEXICAN WIRE SERVICES , The Santa Fe New Mexican

Drafted 24th overall out of Ole Miss, Jerry left the early session of Atlanta's mini-camp Saturday morning with a sprained right knee and didn't return for the late-afternoon practice.

Jerry seemed to have caught his cleats in the grass after banging his knees together during a drill but was able to walk off the field under his own power. The Falcons were not wearing protective pads during the practice; each of the mini-camp workouts is noncontact.

Coach Mike Smith said

the defensive tackle consulted a doctor, but the team does

not yet know if the injury

was serious. Jerry was not available to speak with reporters.

"That's all we know right now," Smith said Saturday night. Smith said the team should have an update today.

Jerry has the potential to excite the Falcons' staff. He has the physical tools Atlanta seeks at defensive tackle, a position the Falcons must retool after 350-pound Grady Jackson left as a free agent two months ago.

He ran the 40-yard dash in 5 seconds, an impressive time for a 296-pound man, at his pro day at Ole Miss and led the Southeastern Conference last season with 18 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Jerry had 32 tackles for minus yardage and 10.5 sacks during his junior and senior years.

Dolphins

Undrafted offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, whose brief career at Oklahoma led to NCAA sanctions, has agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins.

Quinn took part in the rookie camp last weekend and the Dolphins are expected to announce the signing Monday.

Quinn and quarterback Rhett Bomar were dismissed by the Sooners in August 2006 after breaking NCAA rules by taking money for work they didn't perform at a Norman, Okla., car dealership. NCAA sanctions included forcing the Sooners to give up their eight wins in 2005, but an appeals committee restored them.

Raiders

Of all the changes Jeff Garcia has faced since signing a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders in the offseason, accepting a job as quarterback JaMarcus Russell's backup has been the most challenging.

In addition to the usual adjustments of learning a new offense, Garcia -- who has 116 career starts in 10 NFL seasons -- has had to wrestle with the idea of being a reserve.

Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, is the unquestioned starter in Oakland but is already beginning to feel the pressure after leading the Raiders to a 5-11 finish last year while throwing 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

At the NFL owners meetings in March, coach Tom Cable told reporters Russell needed to take on more of a leadership role with the team and made veiled references to Russell's work ethic.

Adding Garcia, the Raiders hope, will help Russell.

Packers

All the off-season talk in the NFC North has been Brett Favre this, Jay Cutler that. Matthew Stafford this, Percy Harvin that.

But the man who could leave as big an imprint as any newcomer in the division is Dom Capers.

The new Packers defensive coordinator is bringing a new flavor of defense to the division -- the 3-4.

The defensive front is

gaining popularity. There now are a dozen teams playing three-man fronts in the league, but the Packers will be one

of only three doing it in the NFC.

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